Homemade Mac and Cheese That Tastes Like Boxed?

Q: In our home we try to give the kids healthy food. They are really picky eaters and some things do not work at all — but we managed to make chicken nuggets from real chicken, and homemade hot dogs and other neat stuff which we all enjoy. But the only pasta they touch is the commercial mac and cheese dinner — no matter which recipe I try from the internet, none look or taste even remotely close to the "original". How can I re-create that unique "cheese sauce"?

Sent by Moshe

Editor: Moshe, two suggestions for you. First of all, try this super-easy and quick one-bowl microwave recipe; it's quite similar to those boxed recipes — but all homemade!

Faith is executive editor of The Kitchn and author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook, coauthored with Sara Kate Gillingham, as well as Bakeless Sweets. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Mike.